JONES, Muriel J. passed April 10, 2020.

A private burial will be held Friday, April 17, 2020. Public Viewing Thursday from 4:00-6:00PM at Willie A. Watkins Historic West End Chapel, 1003 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30310

Muriel Jocquelyne Wilson Jones died on April 10, 2020 of metastatic breast cancer and renal failure. Although she had lived in Atlanta over 50 years, she was born in Temple, Texas (one hour north of Austin, Texas) on November 15, 1943. She was the only child of James Ben Wilson, an elementary school principal, and Kisiah Thelma Rucker Wilson, a third-grade teacher. After graduating from Austin High School, Muriel attended the University of Denver (“DU”) on a full scholarship as part of the Centennial Scholars Honor Program. She graduated with a major in psychology. While at the University of Denver, she met Robert Archie Jones, Jr., who was enrolled in DU’s MBA program but who had grown up in Minnesota and had attended Morehouse College. Muriel earned her Bachelor’s degree and Robert earned his MBA from the University of Denver in 1965. They later married on January 24, 1970. At that time, Muriel was living in Washington, D.C. and working as a Statistician in the Statistical Methods Division of the Bureau of the Census in Washington, D.C. Shortly after their wedding, Muriel and Robert moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where Robert had earned his undergraduate degree from Morehouse. Later in 1970, Muriel gave birth to her only child, Tamara Raquel Jones. After one year as a homemaker, Muriel began working for the City of Atlanta’s Model Cities Program as a Project Administrator for two years. She then joined Delta Airlines in April 1973 as a marketing analyst. She remained at Delta until she retired 2002. During Muriel’s time at Delta, she contributed to the development of Delta’s international and domestic route system and was able to work on several projects that expanded Delta’s presence throughout the world. After several years of retirement, Muriel worked part-time for several years at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement in Sandy Springs, Georgia and in a few other positions. She also volunteered for many years at a food pantry at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and at one point served as a Junior Warden and vestry member of St. Paul’s. She also enjoyed attending services at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Phillip and served on the Commission on Ministry for the Diocese of Atlanta for many years. Muriel was a longtime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and served in various positions in the Kappa Omega Chapter. She also spent a great deal of time with her daughter, Tamara, with whom she shared an exceptionally close, loving bond. After the untimely death of her husband, Robert Jones, Jr. on April 14, 1975, from acute leukemia, Muriel and her mother, Kisiah Thelma Wilson, provided Tamara with a wonderful childhood in a happy home focused on education, faith, and service to others. Tamara attended Woodward Academy from kindergarten through twelfth grade, was the valedictorian of her senior class, and later graduated from Duke University and Harvard Law School. Muriel and Kisiah also kept in close, regular touch with their relatives in Texas, California, and around the country, as well as with Robert’s relatives in Minnesota, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere around the country. Muriel was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Archie Jones, Jr., her mother, Kisiah Thelma Wilson, her father, James Ben Wilson, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by her loving daughter, Tamara, and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. She will be missed terribly.

Services entrusted to Willie A. Watkins Historic West End, 404-758-1731.

In an effort to adhere to the social distancing mandate, we are requesting and limiting attendees to no more than ten people in attendance at any service at this time.